Peperomia plant named ‘EC-PEPE-1806’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Peperomia plant named ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ that is characterized by glossy broad obovate shaped green leaves with clearly visible veins and red stems with large internodes.

Botanical classification: Peperomia obtusifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘EC-PEPE-1806’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPeperomia plant botanically known as Peperomia obtusifolia andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘EC-PEPE-1806’.

‘EC-PEPE-1806’ originated from the crossing of the female or seedparent, an unnamed Peperomia obtusifolia cultivar and the male or pollenparent, an unnamed Peperomia obtusifolia cultivar. The crossing wasconducted in 2015 in Sappemeer, Netherlands. The resulting seeds weresubsequently planted and grown. The cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ was selectedby the inventor in 2017 in a controlled environment as a single plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a cultivated area ofSappemeer, Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ first occurredby tip cuttings in 2017 in Sappemeer, Netherlands. Since that time,under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the newcultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newPeperomia cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1806’. These traits in combinationdistinguish ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart fromother existing varieties of Peperomia known by the inventor.

-   1. Peperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ exhibits glossy broad obovate shaped    green leaves with clearly visible veins.-   2. Peperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ exhibits red stems with large    internodes.

The closest comparison cultivars are Peperomia ‘Bohemian Bravour’ (notpatented) and Peperomia ‘Obtipan Bicolor’ (not patented). ‘EC-PEPE-1806’is distinguishable from ‘Bohemian Bravour’ by the followingcharacteristics:

-   1. Peperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ exhibits glossy broad obovate shaped    green leaves with clearly visible veins. In comparison, the leaves    of ‘Bohemian Bravour’ are not glossy and the leaf veins are not    clearly visible.-   2. Peperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ exhibits red stems. In comparison, the    stems of ‘Bohemian Bravour’ are brown.

‘EC-PEPE-1806’ is distinguishable from ‘Obtipan Bicolor’ by thefollowing characteristics:

-   1. Peperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ exhibits glossy broad obovate shaped    green leaves with clearly visible veins. In comparison, the leaves    of ‘Obtipan Bicolor’ are white and green.-   2. Peperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ exhibits red stems. In comparison, the    stems of ‘Obtipan Bicolor’ are brown.

‘EC-PEPE-1806’ is distinguishable from the female parent plant, by thefollowing characteristics:

-   1. The stems of ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ are red. In comparison, the stems of    the female parent plant are brown.

‘EC-PEPE-1806’ is distinguishable from the male parent plant by thefollowing characteristics:

-   1. The leaves of ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ are glossy green with clearly    visible veins. In comparison, the leaves of the male parent plant    are not glossy and the leaf veins are not clearly visible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofPeperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1806’. The photograph shows an overall view of a 30week old plant. The photograph was taken using conventional techniquesand although colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance, it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Peperomia cultivarnamed ‘EC-PEPE-1806’. Data was collected in Sappemeer, Netherlands from30 week old plants grown in a glass greenhouse in 15 cm. diametercontainers. The time of year was Winter and the temperature range was20-23 degrees Centigrade during the day and 18-20 degrees Centigrade atnight. The light level was natural light level. No photoperiodictreatments or growth retardants were used. Color determinations are inaccordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The growing requirements are similar to thespecies. ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ has not been tested under all possibleconditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without anyvariance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Peperomia obtusifolia ‘EC-PEPE-1806’.-   Annual or perennial: Perennial.-   Parentage: ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ is a hybrid of the female parent, an    unnamed Peperomia obtusifolia cultivar and the male parent an    unnamed Peperomia obtusifolia cultivar.-   Plant type: Potted plant.-   Growth habit: Broad upright.-   Plant shape: Broad Obovate.-   Suitable container size: 9 cm. pots or larger.-   Plant height to top of foliage plane: Average 23.6 cm.-   Plant width: Average 23.2 cm.-   Vigor: Moderate to high.-   Growth rate: Moderate high.-   Low temperature tolerance: 10° Centigrade.-   High temperature tolerance: 35° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Tip cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots: Tip cuttings are placed directly in growing    containers.-   Crop time: Approximately 25 weeks in Sappemeer, Netherlands.-   Root system: Fibrous.-   Plant fragrance: None.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Main branches grow from base with lateral            branches.        -   Basal branching.—Yes.        -   Pinching.—Not required.        -   Number of main branches per plant.—Average 2.        -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—Average 3.        -   Main branch dimensions.—Average 22.5 cm. in length and            0.9 cm. in diameter.        -   Internode length.—4.8 cm.        -   Stem appearance.—Succulent.        -   Stem shape.—Rounded.        -   Stem texture.—Smooth.        -   Stem luster.—Moderately glossy.        -   Stem pubescence.—Absent.        -   Stem angle.—Average 40 degrees from vertical.        -   Stem strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Stem color (young).—Between N186C and 200B.        -   Stem color (mature).—183A to 183B.        -   Internode color.—146C to 146D, covered with fine dots 183D.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Average 6.        -   Leaf shape.—Broad obovate.        -   Leaf aspect.—Moderately concave.        -   Leaf apex.—Rounded to undeeply retuse.        -   Leaf base.—Short attenuate.        -   Leaf dimensions.—Average 10.8 cm. in length and 8.6 cm. in            width.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, very leathery (both surfaces).        -   Leaf luster upper surface.—Glossy.        -   Leaf luster lower surface.—Moderately glossy.        -   Pubescence.—Absent (both surfaces).        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Leaf lobed.—Not lobed.        -   Leaf rugose.—Not rugose (both surfaces).        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, slightly furrowed.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—143A.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—Between 138B and 145A.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—Between NN137A and 139A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—Between 144A and 144B.        -   Vein color (upper surface).—144B.        -   Vein color (lower surface).—144A, main vein fading toward            base of leaf 183A to 183B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Petiole dimensions.—Petiole slightly flattened, average            1.8 cm. in length, 0.6 cm. in diameter at widest, 0.45 cm.            in diameter at narrowest.        -   Petiole texture.—Glabrous.        -   Petiole luster.—Slightly glossy on both sides.        -   Petiole pubescence.—Absent.        -   Petiole strength.—Moderate.        -   Petiole color (upper side).—183B.        -   Petiole color (lower side).—183A.-   Flower: ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ has not produced flowers to date.-   Fruit and seed: ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ has not produced fruit or seed to    date.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Peperomiaplant named ‘EC-PEPE-1806’ as described and illustrated.